Valveless shut-off and transfer device

Abstract

A valveless gas shut-off and transfer device has a looped conduit with a solder-like material in the loop. This eutectic material solidifies below its critical temperature to block the conduit and is liquefied above its critical temperature to allow passage of gas through the conduit. Baffles on the outlet retain the liquefied solder when gas is passing through the device. The liquid solder flows back to the loop when pressures at the inlet and outlet are equalized. When the solder solidifies, the device is again blocked.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A shut-off and transfer device comprising: a conduit having an inlet and an outlet;   a loop in said conduit;   a eutectic material in said loop, said material solidifying below its critical temperature to block said loop, and liquefying above said critical temperature to open said conduit to the passage of fluid therethrough;   a baffled enclosure being connected to the outlet of said conduit, having baffles therein which retain said eutectic material when it is liquefied and fluid is passing through said device, said eutectic material flowing back into said loop when the pressure at said inlet and said outlet are equalized; and   means for controlling the temperature of said material above and below said critical temperature.   
     
     
       2. The device recited in claim 1 wherein said means for controlling the temperature of said material comprises a heater for heating said eutectic material above its critical temperature. 
     
     
       3. A method of transferring the contents of a sample bomb to an analytical instrument comprising: attaching the inlet end of a looped conduit to the outlet of said bomb, said looped conduit containing a eutectic material which solidifies below its critical temperature to block said loop and liquefies above said critical temperature to open said conduit;   preparing the contents of said bomb for analysis in said instrument;   quenching said looped conduit with water;   attaching the outlet of said looped conduit to means connected to said analytical instrument; and   heating said looped conduit above the critical temperature of said eutectic material to liquefy it, thereby permitting passage of the contents of said bomb to said analytical instrument.   
     
     
       4. The transfer device and sampling bomb of claim 3 further comprising: a cap on the outlet of said conduit, said cap being removable so that said outlet of said conduit can be connected to an analytical device and said eutectic material can be heated above its critical temperature to permit transfer of the contents of said sampling bomb to said analytical device.   
     
     
       5. A method of transferring the contents of a sample bomb to an analytical instrument comprising: attaching the inlet end of a looped conduit to the outlet of said bomb;   preparing the contents of said bomb for analysis in said instrument;   quenching said looped conduit with water;   attaching the outlet of said looped conduit to means connected to said analytical instrument, said looped conduit containing a eutectic material which solidifies below its critical temperature to block said loop and liquefies above said critical temperature to open said conduit; and   heating said looped conduit above the critical temperature of said eutectic material to liquefy it, thereby permitting passage of the contents of said bomb to said analytical instrument.   
     
     
       6. The method recited in claim 5, further comprising: capping the outlet of said looped conduit with a cap during the step of preparing; and   removing said cap prior to attaching the outlet of said looped conduit to means connected to said analytical instrument.   
     
     
       7. The method of analyzing hydrocarbon oil comprising: mixing hydrocarbon oil and a catalyst in a sample bomb;   attaching the inlet end of a closed conduit to the outlet of said bomb, said conduit containing a eutectic material which solidifies below its critical temperature to block said loop and liquefies above said critical temperature to open said conduit to the passage of gas;   heating said sample bomb and vigorously shaking it;   quenching said sample bomb in water to stop the reaction of catalyst and oil and to solidify said eutectic material;   attaching the outlet of said sample loop to means connected to an analytical instrument;   heating said sample loop to liquify said eutectic material thereby allowing gas from said sample bomb to pass to said analytical instrument; and   measuring the properties of said gas in the said analytical instrument.